Geochemical investigations of noble metal-bearing ores: Synchrotron-based micro-analyses and microcosm bioleaching studies

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129388

Authors: Loredana Brinza (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi) , Imad Ahmed (University of Oxford) , Carmen - Madalina Cismasiu (Institute of Biology Bucharest, Romanian Academy) , Ioan Ardelean (Institute of Biology Bucharest, Romanian Academy) , Iuliana Gabriela Breaban (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Ias) , Florica Doroftei (“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry) , Konstantin Ignatyev (Diamond Light Source) , Cristina Moisescu (Institute of Biology Bucharest, Romanian Academy) , Mariana Neamtu (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Chemosphere

State: Published (Approved)
Published: December 2020
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 20316

Abstract: Auriferous sulphide ores often incorporate micro-fine (or invisible) gold and silver particles in a manner making their extraction difficult. Nobel metals are lost in the tailings due to the refractory nature of these ores. Bioleaching is an environment-friendly alternative to the commonly used and toxic cyanidation protocols for gold extraction from refractory ores. In this paper, we investigate gold and silver bioleaching from porphyry and epithermal mineralisation systems, using iron-oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The invisible Au, sequestered in refractory ores, was characterised in situ by synchrotron micro X-Ray Fluorescence (SR-μ-XRF) and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), offering information on Au unaltered speciation at the atomistic level within the ore matrices and at a micro-scale spatial resolution. The SR-μ-XRF and XAS results showed that 10-20μm sized elemental Au(0) nuggets are sequestered in pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite matrices and at the interface of a mixture of pyrite and chalcopyrite. Moreover, the preliminary bioleaching experiments of the two types of ores, showed that Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans can catalyse the dissolution of natural heterogeneous Fe-rich geo-matrices, sequestering Au and Ag and releasing particulate phases or partially solubilising them within 60 days. These results provide an understanding of noble metal sequestration and speciation within natural ores and a demonstration of the application of synchrotron-based micro-analysis in characterizing economic trace metals in major mineral structures. This work is a contribution to the ongoing efforts towards finding feasible and greener solutions of noble metal extraction protocols.

Journal Keywords: Gold; Silver; bioleaching; Synchrotron; X-Ray Fluorescence; X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy; Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans; iron-oxidizing bacteria

Diamond Keywords: Bacteria; Bioleaching

Subject Areas: Earth Science, Chemistry


Instruments: I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy

Added On: 05/01/2021 11:43

Discipline Tags:

Earth Sciences & Environment Chemistry Geology Geochemistry

Technical Tags:

Imaging Spectroscopy X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)